Hanging liners by pipe expansion

Abstract

A method for securing and sealing one tubular to another downhole facilitates cementing prior to sealing and allows for suspension of one tubular in the other by virtue of pipe expansion techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of completing a well, comprising: 
       running a tubular string with a swage inside into a cased borehole;  
       moving said swage uphole, while supporting said string, to expand portions of said tubular string into contact with the cased borehole for support thereof;  
       leaving gaps between said tubular string and said cased borehole, with said tubular string supported to said cased borehole;  
       using said gaps for passage of a sealing material;  
       closing said gaps.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       locating a force transfer member inside said tubular string during run-in;  
       transferring an expansion force from said swage through said force transfer member to said tubular string for said expansion into said cased borehole for support thereof.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
       configuring said swage to force said gaps closed through a force transfer through a sleeve which serves as said force transfer member.  
     
     
       4. A method of completing a well, comprising: 
       running a tubular string with a swage inside into a cased borehole;  
       expanding portions of said tubular string into contact with the casing for support thereof;  
       leaving gaps between said tubular string and said casing, with said tubular string supported to said casing;  
       providing longitudinal contact between said tubular string and said cased borehole;  
       defining said gaps as passages between said longitudinal contacts between said tubular string and said cased wellbore;  
       using a fluted expansion swage to create said longitudinal contact for support of said tubular string;  
       supporting said tubular string while moving said swage uphole to expand portions of said tubular string into contact with said cased borehole for support thereof;  
       providing offset flutes on said swage, located one above another;  
       using lowermost flutes to create said longitudinal contact;  
       using said gaps for passage of a sealing material;  
       closing said gaps using offset flutes to subsequently remove said gaps after passage of said sealing material.  
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
       locating a force transfer member inside said tubular string during run-in;  
       transferring an expansion force from said swage through said force transfer member to said tubular string for said expansion into said cased borehole for support thereof.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
       configuring said swage to force said gaps closed through a force transfer through a sleeve which serves as said force transfer member.  
     
     
       7. A method of completing a well, comprising: 
       running a tubular string into a cased borehole;  
       reducing the diameter of a part of a tubing string whose original dimension, on said part thereof, was at least as large as the inside diameter of a cased wellbore, to an outer dimension small enough to fit into said cased borehole;  
       expanding portions of said tubular string into contact with the casing for support thereof;  
       leaving gaps between said tubular string and said casing, with said tubular string supported to said casing;  
       using said gaps for passage of a sealing material;  
       closing said gaps.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       expanding said portion of said tubing string to its said original dimension to close said gaps;  
       providing said original dimension as larger than the inside dimension of said cased wellbore;  
       sealing between said tubing string and said cased wellbore by forcing said portion of said tubular string into circumferential contact with said cased wellbore.